Rationing Comes of Age

The first notable victory over the rationing problem was scored this week: the Office of Price Administration put shoes on a coupon basis (three pairs--or less--a year*) with a minimum of fuss. For the first time, OPA drew up the order in secret, mailed out instructions to local boards on Saturday night, announced the rationing on Sunday afternoon--effective at once. In Manhattan, gossipy Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia let the secret out prematurely and helped start a run on East Side stores, which remain open Sundays. Elsewhere U.S. citizens were given neither urge nor time for frantic hoarding. Only confusion was a crop of rumors of impending rationing of all clothes--which is not even under consideration now.

Other rationing notes of the week:

> When meat rationing starts April 1, each civilian will get not quite 2 lb. a week, according to newest unofficial Washington estimates.

> Best new guess on the butter ration, due about May, was 13 lb. a year ( 1/4 lb. a week), compared with normal peacetime consumption of 16 lb.

> Because of reduced inventories and military requirements, one pound of coffee must now be stretched from five to six weeks (three-fourths cup a day).

*Last year civilians bought an average of 3.4 pairs, an alltime record. Thus "average" citizens, especially men, will find the new rationing order a minor inconvenience. Chief sufferers: women in upper-income groups, who are the shoemakers' best customers'; women in low-income groups, who buy cheap shoes and have to replace them frequently.

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